College Hockey:

Friday Notebook: Fathers, Relatives Had Major Influence on Collegiate Draft

NASHVILLE — If there’s one common theme that will run through the early rounds of this year’s NHL Entry Draft, it is family impact on the collegiate draftees.

In a year that could easily see a record number of collegiate first rounders, almost all of the top college picks are second generation hockey players. The talk of fathers and uncles, players past, was the dominating theme at Friday’s media luncheon in Nashville that featured the top 20 picks as designated by the NHL’s Central Scouting Service (CSS).

Leading the way for that conversation was North Dakota’s Zach Parise. Son of the legendary Minnesota North Star J.P. Parise, Zach has pretty much assured himself a first round spot in this year’s entry draft and could easily land in the top 10 overall.

Parise didn’t hold back when talking about his father, calling him his “single biggest influence” on his game.

“I think [having] the last name [Parise] is a big advantage,” said the younger Parise. “It’s always going to be an advantage and I really enjoy it.

“It may have opened a few doors for me along the way and it’s fun to always be compared to him.”

Parise, who scored 25 goals and 57 points this year for North Dakota, admitted that while playing Bantams, he began thinking that maybe he could follow in his father’s footsteps. The elder Parise played 14 seasons in the NHL, spending his best years with the North Stars as well as finding time with Boston and the New York Islanders.

Zach never saw his dad play but said he’s watched plenty a game of his role model on DVD.

“He was a good player,” said Parise. “He definitely got the job done.”

Parise could fall nicely into the 10th overall spot in Saturday’s draft — a slot occupied by the Montreal Canadiens. The Habs have made a pattern of looking to college talent in recent years, having picked up Massachusetts-Lowell’s Ron Hainsey and Michigan’s Mike Komisarek in the first round. Parise said that he’d be happy to wear the blue, blanc et rouge of the Canadiens.

“I don’t know what to expect when tomorrow comes,” said Parise, “but [Montreal] would be an awesome place to play.

“[My dad] is full French-Canadian, but I never picked up any of his French. Now I’m disappointed that I didn’t.”

Joining Parise as a famous-named first rounder is Ryan Suter, son of Bob Suter, a member of the 1980 gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic team, and nephew of long-time Calgary Flame Gary Suter.

The younger Suter talked about his family ties in an opposite light of Parise, almost downplaying his father and uncle’s success.

“I never really thought much about the way [my father] played,” said Suter, whose father actually played some professional hockey in Nashville for the South Stars of the old Colonial Hockey League. “He says to not think about [him] but that it’s my time now.”

Suter went as far to admit that his father didn’t give him much advice heading into the draft, almost letting him experience everything on his own without the family name as influence.

“He doesn’t really talk about this stuff,” said Suter. “He’s more worried about going out after this and walking around town … really just enjoying the experience.”

These two are part of a larger group of collegians with paternal or family hockey influence. Minnesota rookie and top collegiate prospect Thomas Vanek’s father played professionally in Austria, while Michigan’s Jeff Tambellini is the son of NHL journeyman Steve Tambellini, who himself enjoyed a 10-year career at the game’s top level and is now Vancouver’s vice president of player personnel.

The irony of the matter is that most of these fathers and relatives took a different route to the NHL than their offspring. These men played back in the day when major junior was the fashionable and likely only way to get to the NHL.

Now, though, most of these sons and nephews heed some strong advice from their family: mix hockey with education, advice that speaks volumes about the value of NCAA hockey.

“I think a lot of these fathers want to see their sons get a good education along with playing hockey,” said one professional scout. “They realize that there’s a value to the college game these days and that it’s the best stepping stone to the NHL.”

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Jim Connelly is a senior writer and has been with USCHO.com since 1999. He is based in Boston and regularly covers Hockey East. He began with USCHO.com as the correspondent covering the MAAC, which nowadays is known as Atlantic Hockey. Each week during the season, he writes "Tuesday Morning Quarterback."Tweets by @jimmyconnelly

Prospects Face Tough Decisions

Every year when the Draft rolls along, college players are faced with the same question of whether or not to return to school the following year or take the often lucrative offers from NHL teams.

This year, though, that conversation is being had in a new light. With the current NHL collective bargaining agreement (CBA) about to expire in January 2004, college players could be more easily lured by the NHL with the hope of beating the new CBA that many say could restrict the amount of money and signing bonuses made by league rookies.

That’s definitely on the mind of Parise, who is tabbed as a top 10 pick and could receive an offer right away.

“I haven’t talked to anyone about where I’ll be next year,” said Parise, “but it goes through my head a little bit. Maybe I’ll be getting a phone call on Monday or Tuesday but you never know.”

In a more peculiar predicament is Suter who is committed to attend Wisconsin following in the footsteps of his father and uncle, but readily admits that the NHL might be the more attractive immediate option.

“I was in Detroit a couple of months ago and talked to [Chris] Chelios about the [labor issues], and he told me you never know what’s going to happen,” said Suter. “You never know what’s going to happen next year. It all depends on what happens and what [the team that drafts me] needs.

“I feel like I’m ready at this point so I’ll definitely give [playing professionally and foregoing college] a thought.”

Quick Hits

Colin McDonald, ranked 58th among North American forwards and defenseman, is the nephew of Quinnipiac athletic director Jack McDonald. The younger McDonald will attend Providence in the fall. …

Colorado College defenseman Mark Stuart, thought by many to be a potential first-round draft choice, is the son of USA Hockey team doctor Michael Stuart. Stuart’s brother Mike was drafted by Nashville in 2000 and another brother, Colin, was drafted in 2001 by Atlanta. …

This year’s host city, Nashville, is said to be looking to draw the NHL All-Star Game by using the draft as a stepping stone. According to sources, the city will meet with the NHL brass this Sunday morning to discuss that issue. …

Other ex-major junior and NHL players with sons now in the NCAA include Mike Gartner, Ryan Walter, Bob Nystrom, Neil Komadoski, Blake Dunlop and Greg Malone. Longtime NHL star Peter Stastny has a son in the NCAA, and Ray Bourque’s son Chris is going to Boston University in the future. There are almost a dozen others who graduated in the last 10 years. Then there’s Brady Murray, whose father, Andy, was once the coach of the Canadian National Team. The younger Murray is going to North Dakota.